In order to address the recent increase in power cuts in the region, the first power barge large enough to produce 225 megawatts of electricity has set sail for Ghana for a commissioning ceremony. The barge was running a little off schedule but has now officially set sail. Ghanaian government officials and media practitioners met in Turkey a few days ago for the official commissioning ceremony before the barge set sail. Under normal circumstances, a trip from Turkey to Ghana for a vessel of this size would take around three weeks. However, due to the urgency of the situation, a Semi-submersible vessel has been contracted to pull the barge so that it can make the journey in two. Once it has arrived, it should take about two weeks to connect it to the national grid.

Karpowership, the builder of the barge, has confirmed that it has been test fired and that everything is functioning efficiently. Another vessel is expected to dock close to the barge upon its arrival in order to power it and supply it with fuel until an operational fuel pump is adequately connected.

Ghana Gas Company Limited (GGCL) has been confirmed by the Ghana Energy Commission (GEC) to supply the country with gas in the very near future. The Chairman of the Commision, Dr. Kwame Ampofo, was very optimistic about the idea when leading the members on a tour of a new GGCL facility in order to acquaint them with the operation in Ellembelle, a district in the Western part of the country. Ampofo later stated, "looking forward into the future, I see that these quality facilities will play critical roles in the country's socio-economic development."

He also complimented the management and staff of these facilities for their work in making sure that they employed safety and sound environmental practices in addition to​ strict security to avoid any break-ins. However, Ampofo did urge them to explore more effective avenues of production enhancement, stating that energy is the key to the Ghanaian economy.

The United Nations has recently adopted an initiative called the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). One of these goals focuses on hygiene. This is a major step for global health as this is the first time the UN has added hygiene to its global agenda. The SDG aims to achieve “access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene” by 2030.

Now, less than a month after this initiative was announced, comes the first Global Handwashing Day. UNICEF has reported that, even though it has been proven to be extremely beneficial to child health, handwashing with soap remains at dangerously low levels in many countries. UNICEF claims that children will continue to catch easily preventable diseases like diarrhea, which can be fatal for children in critical health conditions, if improvements in hygiene do not supplement access to water and sanitation.

Sanjay Wijesekera, the global head of UNICEF’s water, sanitation, and hygiene programs says that “from birth - when unwashed hands of birth attendants can transmit dangerous pathogens - right through babyhood, school and beyond, handwashing is crucial for a child's health. It is one of the cheapest, simplest, most effective health interventions we have.”

According to the Pacific Business Journal report, a ruling has recently been issued by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) that aims to halt the state’s current metering program. The ruling hopes to approve two newly developed programs for any customers who are looking to install solar, self and grid-supply options. These new options will compensate customers at a new fixed rate but only if they are actively supplying power back to the grid. They must provide customers with a minimum bill if they do not.

Hawaii is pushing towards its goal of using 100% renewable energy by 2045.

Cuba has recently enacted its National Electric Development program that hopes to significantly increase its electricity production capacity. The Island hopes to increase the amount of its electricity that is generated from renewable sources to 24% by 2030. 96% of Cuba’s electricity is currently coming from fossil fuels. By cutting back on these and moving to more renewable energy options, Cuba would be able to save $780 million annually.

Currently, renewable energy output accounts for a mere 4.3% of the country’s total electricity production. This new plan, however, aims to increase investment in renewable energy initiatives by $3.5 billion in the next 15 years. The Communist Party reported that this is a strong attempt to develop the sector.

Cuba plans to install solar and wind farms and small hydropower stations. In addition to this, plans are being made to create bioelectric plants which function solely off burning marabou wood and sugar cane.